Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Jade War by Fonda Lee

5 reviews

rnbhargava's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I absolutely loved this second book. Its main minor drawback is the cast with point of view chapters being perhaps a bit too large. That said, I was thrilled by the twists and turns, both in terms of action and character based ones. It really plays with the emotions masterfully. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, War, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Xenophobia, Gore, Blood, Sexual content, and Car accident

There is drug use in relation to the power abilities central to the story, there’s an abortion. There’s an early death of grandparent rather than parent. Misogyny is present with the intent to “protect” those without abilities yet that “weakness” is based on a cultural fallacy. There’s a relationship between two male characters that does become sexual. There’s varying attitudes around it, one of which is dismissing it as a phase. There are also plenty of relationship betrayals of varying levels. There is also one major action carried out by a main character that could be thought of as unforgivable and monstrous that leaves a specific child in his care.

hey_al's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Liked this one even better than the first. The way Lee makes the reader feel the complex emotions of the characters is insane- you really feel for these people, even when they commit the most horrific violence. Clan business is no joke. Emotional and exciting read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, and Violence

Moderate: Classism, Police brutality, Abortion, and Addiction

takarakei's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

When I first started this series I really knew nothing going in except kung-fu inspired jade magic and mafioso type families (based on a talk I saw Fonda at). About halfway through this second book in the series I realized that (at least so far) these books are really a mastery of political intrigue and strategy. Honestly, now I am marveling at how much Fonda must have researched and understood about the way power-struggles often work in relation to a global chess board. The continued character development (especially of Hilo) throughout the course of this book is fantastically done. I am SO intrigued (and a bit scared for my own well being) to see how the final third book will pan out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, Death, and Murder

Moderate: War, Misogyny, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Drug use, Grief, Torture, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Slavery, and Police brutality

Rape (off page, in non descriptive detail) Animal cruelty - like book 1 a lot of derogatory language involving animals, cock-fighting (not extremely explicit) and 'testing' magic on mice.

sarah984's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It's pretty rare to find a sequel - especially part 2 in a trilogy - that's as good as the original, but Jade War surpassed all of my expectations. It's got a broader scope this time: many scenes take place in other countries and the Kauls are contending with foreign militaries, expat communities and trade agreements on top of the clan war situation and general family drama. It was easy to romanticize what was going on in Jade City, but Jade War draws back that curtain a bit to show the darker side. The characters are fantastic and unfortunately all of their terrible decisions are absolutely consistent with what you'd expect them to do. I can't wait to read the third book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: War, Xenophobia, Addiction, Drug use, Medical content, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racism, Torture, Abortion, Blood, Gore, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Homophobia, Suicide, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Classism, Colonisation, Excrement, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Rape, Vomit, and Animal death

maregred's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexism, Classism, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Death of parent, Police brutality, and Violence

Moderate: Abortion, Ableism, Addiction, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Trafficking, Xenophobia, War, and Alcohol